Our Local Heroes
The Rawlins Brothers, Peter and William
The Rawlins were original pioneers that settled in what is today West Volusia County, Florida. William Rawlins was born on April 7, 1825 in Enterprise, Fl. Peter was born in Enterprise aswell on February 10, 1836. The 1850 U.S. Census list their occupations as farmers with no employees or slaves. In 1861 they enlisted into the Confederate Army and served with the 1st Florida Cavalry in the Western Theater. During the Battle of Missionary Ridge on November 25, 1863 both brothers were captured. They were sent to Rock Island Arsenal P.O.W. Camp in Rock Island, Illinois. Both brothers survived the war.
Once released the brothers came back to West Volusia County and went back to farming. Both married and had children. William served as a postal carrier in Deland for awhile and passed away at home on October 10, 1886. Peter Rawlins married twice and passed away on October 1, 1906. Their descendants still reside in an around West Volusia.
The story of the Rawlins Brothers is the story of millions of Confederate soldiers that is often ignored our not told truthfully. The average Confederate soldier WAS a poor farmer working a lone or with his family to raise a crop to live on. Telling the truth is not "revising history" or "supporting the lost cause".
Prevatt Settlement Cemetery, Lake Helen
Prevatt Settlement Cemetery Preservation
The Prevatt Settlement was founded by Judge James H. Prevatt around 1858. Even though he never used commercial fertilizers, he became a successful farmer. SCV Camp 1360 research shows that in the 1860 U.S. Census, James H. Prevatt's occupation is listed as "farmer". In the 1870 U.S. Census he lists his occupation as "County Judge". He would have presided over cases in Enterprise. By 1876 he was able to open his own general store in Prevatt Settlement. The store was located just east of his log cabin home. Soon a community grew around the store. A church and eventual cemetery was incorporated into the settlement to the north of settlement.
Until Prevatt opened his store, the settlers had to travel to Lake Beresford or Enterprise for provisions.
All freight was labeled 'Prevatt Settlement' and shipped by river boats to either Blue Spring Landing or to Rossiter Landing on Lake Beresford. Most of the overland hauling was by mules and carts as the narrow and rugged roads made four-wheeled wagons impractical.
The Prevatt Church House was south of the land Judge Prevatt reserved for the cemetery, on the north side of Lake Helen. It was built of pine poles -- logs with the bark stripped off -- and had a unique lighting system. Outside, scaffolds were erected upon which pitch pine was burned to light the yard. Inside, light was furnished by fat splinters stuck into the cracks in the wall. The church served as a school for two or three terms and also as a store for awhile.
Some of the ministers serving in the Prevatt Church were the Rev. McGlone, a Baptist from Haw Creek; the Rev. Gautier, Methodist from Crescent City; and Judge James H. Chandler, Methodist, who lived southeast of Judge Prevatt. Judge Prevatt died in 1883 and in the spring of that year, Henry DeLand purchased 40 acres of the Prevatt estate for a reported $9,269."
Only thing left of these beginnings of what is now Central Florida is the Prevatt Settlement Cemetery. The Cemetery is listed as a Historic Cemetery by the State of Florida. It is listed in the Florida Historic Cemetery Master File as V009376. Markers have been lost or stolen, and new homes are being built dangerously close to the historic cemetery boundaries. Since 2013 when a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans had located all the required documents for head stones for Peter and William Rawlins, SCV Camp 1360 worked with family members to locate their resting places. Using family letters and other documents their graves were located and the stones you see today were placed. The St. Johns Rangers have provided maintenance and care to the cemetery since as much as possible. We encourage you to help if you can. Thank you!
Join us in preserving Volusia County history.
Before Henry Deland or Flagler, and long long before Walt Disney; there were the Rawlins, Dylans, Longs, and Prevatts. These early pioneers are the ones who cleared the land, labored in the fields, and built the towns that attracted the Delands and Flaglers to Florida. The stories of these early pioneers are over shadowed by the wealthier, and should not be forgotten or over shadowed. Our goal in preserving the Prevatt Settlement Cemetery is to also make it an educational experience. The future easement to the cemetery is 300 feet long from Johns Street to the cemetery property. Our vision is to have placards every 20 feet along the easement telling a different story about West Volusia County. If you would like to help by either donating or volunteering, please contact us. Thank you.